This book is good to read anytime after you complete the Shadow and Bone trilogy. It's good background knowledge to know for reading some of

Inej's dialogue and the story behind the Ice Court

before the Six of Crows duology. It is practically required reading before or during the King of Scars duology. This book alternatively spoke of worthy and merciful saints and some who died gruesome deaths. It does obliquely provide some commentary on religion, as I was reminded of some of the ghastly stories of saints I read as a Catholic growing up. Some of the stories can be explained by

Grisha power and some are due to good luck. It is hard to see this, especially after King of Scars, as an endorsement for a monolithic and irreproachable theological text. Aline's story is particularly fascinating, as it would have been impossible for a powerless Aline to come to the aid of the children. Praying does nothing in these tales

. My favorites include some of the stories that intersect with the main narrative, particularly those of Lizabeta, Grigori, Egmond, and the final two, which leave one with chills after reading. Another favorite is Magda, the patron saint of abandoned women; Leigh Bardugo does develop interesting women in her series. And it's fascinating that she chose to include Magda in this bound book, as a beacon for common, non-Grisha or noble women. Definitely worth the read. Do get it on audiobook, though. Ben Barnes, the actor who plays the Darkling in the tv show, reads half of the stories. His voice is sumptuous in these tellings, reflecting how these stories would have been related in the Grishaverse - lovingly snuck into your ear.